The Michael Chernow Podcast

Jaksot

• 
  Your Private Habits Are Creating Your Public Life 14.09.2026 12min

  What you do when nobody is watching may be the clearest reflection of who you’re becoming. In this Monday Moment, Michael Chernow breaks down why your morning routine, daily habits, discipline, and private decisions directly impact your confidence and success. He also gets vulnerable about the stress of running Kreatures of Habit and how the pressure of being a founder and CEO started to become debilitating. Michael explains why building strong routines and rituals gives him the confidence to keep fighting when life and business get hard. If your actions behind closed doors don’t align with the life you say you want, this episode is your reminder to change them.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#MichaelChernow #MondayMoments #SelfDiscipline #MorningRoutine #PersonalDevelopment
• 
  He’s Running 100 Miles to Find Out Who He Really Is | Nick Walker 09.09.2026 43min

  Nick Walker joins Michael Chernow for a raw conversation about discipline, childhood trauma, ultra running, therapy, and the pursuit of hard things. Nick opens up about training for the Leadville 100, why he intentionally puts himself through suffering, and what running has taught him about who he really is. The conversation turns deeply personal as Nick discusses trauma therapy, EMDR, growing up around instability, and why he remembers so little of his childhood. He also shares his earliest memory of his parents screaming and how childhood experiences still influence his habits, environment, and need for control today. This is a conversation about healing, mental toughness, delayed gratification, authenticity, and discovering what has been underneath the surface all along.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#NickWalker #MichaelChernow #ChildhoodTrauma #MentalHealth #selfimprovement
• 
  The Brutal Truth About Why Your Content Isn’t Going Viral | Zachary Cummings 02.09.2026 34min

  What actually makes content go viral, and why does so much content fail? Zachary Cummings joins Michael Chernow to break down viral content strategy, podcast growth, social media marketing, and the years of testing that helped grow The Journey Podcast to millions of followers across platforms. Zach shares how posting four times a day for months led to his first viral breakthrough, why understanding human emotion matters more than chasing the algorithm, and how his work with Michael generated millions of views in just months. They also discuss podcasting, entrepreneurship, content creation, personal branding, self-doubt, discipline, and what it takes to build one of the biggest platforms in the world. Whether you're a podcaster, content creator, entrepreneur, or trying to grow on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook, this conversation breaks down what actually makes people stop scrolling and pay attention.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit
• 
  Gabe Snow: From Fitness Model to Drugs, Steroid Abuse & a 40% Blocked Heart Artery 26.08.2026 1t 15min

  Gabe Snow joins Michael Chernow for one of the most raw and vulnerable conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Gabe opens up about childhood trauma, grief, addiction, steroid abuse, losing himself behind a seemingly glamorous lifestyle, and the moment he realized he needed to change. He shares how years of anabolic steroid use contributed to a shocking heart diagnosis, including discovering that his LAD artery was 40% blocked at just 34 years old. They also dive into body image, self-worth, nervous system regulation, breathwork, and what it actually takes to rebuild your life after years of running from yourself. Michael opens up about his own experiences with health, trauma, recovery, and a recent MDMA-assisted journey. This is a conversation about facing the parts of yourself you’d rather avoid and finding your way back to who you really are.Subscribe to The Michael Chernow Podcast for new episodes every week.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#MichaelChernowPodcast #GabeSnow #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Breathwork
• 
  The Productivity Hack Most People Are Too Lazy To Use | Brent Richard 19.08.2026 1t 20min

  Brent Richard joins Michael Chernow to break down the habits, discipline, and sacrifices that completely changed his life. From waking up at 4AM and discovering the massive productivity advantage of owning the early morning hours, to building an audience of more than 200,000 people and creating Early Dad, Brent explains why consistency beats motivation every time.They also dive into what it actually means to be a present father, why chasing money can come at the expense of your family, and how our phones are stealing moments we’ll never get back. Michael and Brent discuss the pressure men carry, finding purpose through fatherhood, building discipline, and why sometimes you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and simply do the work.Later, the conversation turns to a topic they know may be controversial: traditional family roles, being the provider, stay-at-home motherhood, and why they believe there’s nothing wrong with a family choosing that dynamic if both partners genuinely want it.If you want more time, more discipline, better health, and a better relationship with your family, this episode is for you.Subscribe to The Michael Chernow Podcast for new episodes every week.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#MichaelChernow #BrentRichard #EarlyDad #Fatherhood #Discipline #Productivity #MorningRoutine
• 
  “Intermittent Fasting” Felt Familiar. I’d Been Starving Myself for Years | Alex Stein 12.08.2026 1t 18min

  In this episode of The Michael Chernow Podcast, Michael sits down with Alexander Stein for an unfiltered conversation about disordered eating, body dysmorphia, fitness obsession, and the struggles men rarely talk about. Alex shares how his relationship with food began changing at just eight years old and eventually became decades of restriction, over-exercising, coffee, and one meal a day. At his lowest point, he was 6'2" and 140 pounds, yet still struggled to recognize how unhealthy he had become. Michael also opens up about developing his own unhealthy relationship with food and fitness after getting sober, leading to a larger conversation about the incredibly thin line between discipline and obsession. They examine modern fitness culture, intermittent fasting, body-image pressure, social media, and why behaviors that look “healthy” from the outside can sometimes be driven by fear and control. Alex explains the moment hearing Nikki Glaser speak openly about her own struggles finally made him feel understood, why being told he didn't technically qualify as anorexic became a dangerous challenge in his mind, and what ultimately helped him rebuild his relationship with food. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever wondered: Am I actually healthy—or am I obsessed?KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabitCHAPTERS:0:00 Intro & Trigger Warning4:33 What Does Disordered Eating Actually Look Like?7:02 Dieting at Just 8 Years Old12:12 The Fear of Ever Getting Fat16:28 6'2" and 140 Pounds — How Bad It Got19:00 Michael’s Own Battle With Food After Sobriety23:13 20 Years of Food Rules & Body Dysmorphia27:27 Coffee, One Meal a Day & Extreme Restriction30:26 Healthy or Obsessed? The Dark Side of Fitness Culture34:50 Childhood, Control & Where It All Started40:07 Over-Exercising, Restriction & Trying to Get Help44:08 The Nikki Glaser Moment That Changed Everything46:50 “I’ll Get There” — When Recovery Became a Challenge53:27 Marriage, Relapse & Reaching a Breaking Point58:18 Rebuilding His Life & Relationship With Food1:08:23 What to Do If You’re Struggling1:12:11 The Eating Disorder Men Hide Behind “Fitness”1:14:43 Alex’s Final Message#MichaelChernow #AlexanderStein #MensMentalHealth #DisorderedEating #BodyDysmorphia #EatingDisorderRecovery ##IntermittentFasting #TheMichaelChernowPodcast
• 
  What 16 Years In Business Taught Me 10.08.2026 12min

  In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow reflects on five years of building Kreatures of Habit and the lessons he has learned from 16 years of entrepreneurship.Michael opens up about the highs and lows of running a business, the stress of raising money, the resilience it takes to keep going, and the abnormal optimism required to build something that actually lasts. He also shares a powerful moment from his 22-year sobriety anniversary run, where he found gratitude, grace, and a deeper reminder that he simply will not quit.This episode is a message for anyone sitting on an idea, dream, risk, or major life decision. Whether it is starting a business, changing careers, getting healthy, leaving the wrong relationship, or finally betting on yourself, Michael’s message is simple: take the swing.Do not wait until the end of your life wondering what could have happened if you had just gone for it.The other side of fear is freedom.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#MichaelChernow #MondayMoments #KreaturesOfHabit #Entrepreneurship
• 
  Michael Chernow: “I Overdosed… Then Used Again 4 Hours Later” 05.08.2026 1t 11min

  Michael Chernow shares the raw story of how childhood trauma led him into addiction at just 12 years old and eventually brought him within inches of losing his life. After surviving a heroin overdose, Michael returned to using only hours later because he still didn’t know how to stop. Everything changed when one phone call connected him with the mentor who gave him the structure, discipline, faith, and support required to rebuild his life. Now 21 years sober, Michael explains why asking for help is a sign of strength, how fitness became part of his recovery, and why getting back up is the only thing you need to do perfectly. He also opens up about fatherhood, meeting his wife nine months into sobriety, learning to love himself, and becoming the mentor he once desperately needed. This is a powerful conversation about addiction, redemption, faith, discipline, love, and the possibility of completely changing your life.
• 
  everybody poops 04.08.2026 8min

  I felt it was time to have this conversation
• 
  Doctors Told Her She Would Die... She Refused to Accept It | Ashleigh Di Lello 29.07.2026 1t 20min

  After being told at just 13 years old that she likely wouldn’t survive her teenage years, Ashleigh Di Lello refused to accept the future doctors predicted for her. Years later, after a failed hip surgery left her unable to walk and living with debilitating chronic pain, she reached another breaking point that changed the direction of her life.In this episode, Ashleigh explains how she began studying neuroscience, nervous-system regulation and the connection between physical, mental and emotional pain. She and Michael discuss faith, neuroplasticity, trauma, survival mode, self-compassion and why the brain repeatedly returns to familiar patterns—even when those patterns are destructive.Ashleigh also breaks down the practical process she uses to help people process emotional pain, calm the brain’s fear networks and create healthier neural pathways. Michael shares his own experiences with addiction, childhood trauma, his son’s rare genetic diagnosis and the role his relationship with God has played throughout his recovery.This conversation is about refusing to let pain, fear or a diagnosis become your permanent identity. It is a powerful reminder that healing requires faith, responsibility, daily action and the willingness to move directly through what hurts.
• 
  The Biggest Failure Is Never Trying | KOH Sprouts Market Tour 15.07.2026 48min

  Michael Chernow and Mattiy Christofferson sit down inside an RV after six exhausting days on the road launching the Kreatures of Habit Daily Bar at Sprouts stores across the West Coast.In this raw, off-the-cuff conversation, they break down the reality of building a company, the pressure founders feel when comparing themselves to massive brands, and why obsession is often required to succeed. They also discuss delegation, maintaining momentum, creating your own luck, and learning to accept that nobody will execute your vision exactly like you.Michael opens up about nearly sacrificing his marriage for business, the dream he is still working toward, and why success is meaningless if it costs you the people you love. This episode is a reminder that the biggest failure is not losing—it is reaching the end of your life knowing you never tried.Follow the journey as Kreatures of Habit and Ops Run travel across the country connecting with runners, run clubs, and local communities.
• 
  I wanted A Father Figure. I Found A Monster | My Story Of Childhood Abuse From A Predator 08.07.2026 1t 8min

  Michael Chernow opens up about growing up in an unsafe home, searching for a father figure, and how that vulnerability led him into the hands of a predator. He shares the confusion, shame, addiction, and anger that followed, and why he believes parents need to be more aware of who has access to their children. This conversation also goes into his near-death experience with heroin, the moment that finally pushed him toward sobriety, and the mentor who helped him rebuild his life. Now 21 years sober, Michael uses his story as a warning to parents and a message of hope for anyone who feels too broken to change. This episode contains sensitive conversations around childhood abuse, addiction, and recovery.#ChildhoodTrauma #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #MensMentalHealth #Fatherhood #TraumaHealing #SurvivorStory #ProtectYourKids #Parenting #RecoveryJourney
• 
  Discipline Is The Key To Freedom 06.07.2026 26min

  In this episode, Michael Chernow opens up about the moment he realized his habits were destroying his life and how discipline became the foundation for everything he has built since.From addiction, violence, and losing control to sobriety, business, fatherhood, and personal growth, Michael breaks down why small daily habits matter more than massive life changes. He explains how little wins can rebuild confidence, why fear causes most people to quit, and why discipline is the key to freedom.This conversation is a reminder that your habits will either make you or break you. Whether you are trying to get sober, lose weight, build a business, improve your mindset, or simply become a better version of yourself, the next best decision is always available.Discipline is free. Habits are powerful. And it is never too late to change your life.#MichaelChernow #Discipline #Habits #CreaturesOfHabit #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #SelfImprovement #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #Motivation #MentalToughness #LifeLessons #Podcast #TheMichaelChernowPodcast
• 
  She Lost 30% Of Her Body Weight Trying To Be "Healthy" | Kelsey Heenan 01.07.2026 1t 6min

  Michael Chernow sits down with Kelsey Heenan for a raw conversation about food, fitness, control, and recovery. Kelsey opens up about how trying to become a better athlete slowly turned into dangerous food rules, restriction, over-exercising, and losing 30% of her body weight. Michael also shares how food became another form of addiction for him after getting sober from drugs and alcohol. Together, they talk about why eating disorders and food anxiety are not just “women’s issues,” how fitness can become punishment, and why true health has to include freedom. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt trapped by food, body image, discipline, or the pressure to always optimize.
• 
  Good vs Evil Is Happening Inside You 29.06.2026 7min

  In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow reflects on the constant battle between good and evil, light and darkness, and the choices we make every single day.This message is about awareness, discipline, and understanding that life will always test who you are becoming. Michael breaks down why the real battle is not always outside of us, but often within us — in our thoughts, actions, habits, reactions, and the way we choose to show up in the world.Whether you are trying to grow, heal, stay grounded, or become a better version of yourself, this episode is a reminder that the small choices matter.Good and evil are not just ideas. They show up in how we live.
• 
  20 Years Of Marriage Taught Me This About Love | Stef Sifandos 24.06.2026 1t 11min

  In this episode of The Michael Chernow Podcast, Michael sits down with Stef Sifandos for a powerful conversation on love, relationships, marriage, intimacy, ego, and why real connection feels harder than ever.They talk about how social media creates the illusion of connection, why so many people push love away, and how old survival patterns can quietly destroy relationships. Michael opens up about his 20+ year relationship with his wife, the work it takes to keep love strong, and why communication, self-awareness, and healthy conflict matter so much.This conversation goes deep into marriage, attraction, conflict, generational trauma, fatherhood, addiction, and what it actually means to feel loved. If you’ve ever struggled with intimacy, communication, or staying connected in a relationship, this episode is for you.Subscribe for more conversations around health, relationships, recovery, growth, and what it takes to live a more fulfilled life.#TheMichaelChernowPodcast #Relationships #Marriage #Love #SelfAwareness #Healing #PersonalGrowth #Intimacy
• 
  Loving Someone Who Can’t Love Themselves 22.06.2026 8min

  In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow opens up about one of the hardest tests he has faced in his own life: true compassion.Michael breaks down the difference between empathy and compassion, and why compassion can be so difficult when you love someone who struggles to love themselves. He reflects on the people in our lives who test our patience, our heart, and our ability to stay open instead of turning away.This episode is a reminder that some relationships are not just challenges, they are opportunities for growth. Michael shares how compassion can become a master test in life, forcing us to evolve as people and maybe even as souls.If you have someone in your life who is hard to love, hard to understand, or hard to keep showing up for, this message may hit home.
• 
  She Was Broken Beyond Repair—Until This Happened | Lindsey Van Wagner 17.06.2026 51min

  For years, Lindsey Van Wagner battled addiction, self-hatred, depression, and a darkness she never thought she could escape. In this powerful conversation with Michael Chernow, she opens up about the moment everything changed, the reality of getting sober, finding self-love, and why recovery is about so much more than quitting alcohol.This episode is for anyone struggling with addiction, mental health, self-worth, or feeling lost in life. If you've ever felt broken, beyond repair, or like nobody understands what you're going through, this conversation is for you.New episodes of The Michael Chernow Podcast every Wednesday at 12 PM.#MichaelChernowPodcast #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #SelfLove
• 
  The Fatherhood Lesson Every Man Needs To Hear 15.06.2026 11min

  Fatherhood is more than a title. It's a responsibility, a privilege, and one of life's greatest gifts.In this special Father's Day episode, Michael Chernow shares a heartfelt message about what truly matters as a parent. From the importance of being present with your children to the lessons he's learned as a father, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn't measured by money, status, or possessions, but by the impact we have on the people we love most.Michael opens up about the emotional moments he shares with his sons, the challenges modern fathers face, and why our children don't need more things—they need more of us.Whether you're a father, have a father, or hope to become one someday, this episode will remind you what truly matters.Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.
• 
  Former Navy SEAL: "War Is The Most Addictive Drug On Earth" | Kaj Larsen 10.06.2026 1t 18min

  Former Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, war correspondent, and documentarian Kaj Larsen joins The Michael Chernow Podcast for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, suffering, purpose, and what it takes to perform at the highest level.Kaj shares incredible stories from SEAL training, nearly quitting Hell Week, the addictive nature of war, lessons from combat, and the leadership principles that have guided him through military service, entrepreneurship, journalism, and life. Michael and Kaj also explore modern masculinity, accountability, mental toughness, AI warfare, and why the ability to embrace discomfort may be the most valuable skill in today's world.If you've ever felt stuck, challenged, or called to become a stronger version of yourself, this episode is packed with wisdom that can help you take the next step.New episodes of The Michael Chernow Podcast drop every Wednesday at 12 PM.Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Meeting Kaj Larsen00:50 The SEAL Team Drug Scandal That Changed Everything05:00 Doing The Hard Right Thing As A Leader10:00 Accountability, Leadership & Extreme Ownership16:45 Why Kaj Joined The Navy18:30 How Navy SEALs Actually Select Candidates21:20 Hell Week & What Breaks Most Men23:30 Modern Day Knight Project & Facing Your Darkness28:45 The Real Purpose Of SEAL Training31:15 The Night Kaj Almost Quit Hell Week37:20 Finding The Hidden Gear & Building Mental Toughness42:40 Why Suffering Is Necessary For Growth44:50 Why War Becomes Addictive50:50 AI, Drones & The Future Of Warfare59:20 Mission, Purpose & Becoming Mentally Strong1:05:00 Building A Powerful Mind In An Age Of Distraction1:12:00 Final Lessons On Discipline, Identity & Success#MichaelChernow #KajLarsen #TheMichaelChernowPodcast #NavySEAL #hellweek